Archive for the 'Autos' Category
Ratings
Pros
- Best routing we’ve seen
- Great menus system
- Fast start-up
- Wealth of information on navigation screen
- iPod pausing during voice instructions
Cons
- Horrible iPod interface
- Dated map interface
- Limited POI database
- No Internet-connectivity for POIs
The Bottom Line
TomTom has a strong history of being one of the best in the GPS industry and as the first to the iPhone, it took the market lead. But with a dated interface and lack of Internet look-up of POIs that the other guys have, TomTom may have a tough sale at $60. It’s saving grace may be the fact that it routed us better than any other GPS app we have tested.
Recommended
Yes
Full Review
I’ve been a fan of TomTom navigation products way back to the start of the millennium dating to our first review of its Palm OS navigator in 2002. Yes, this isn’t the first time TomTom has brought GPS to a “PDA”. (Remember that acronym?) We all first learned of TomTom’s navigator when the second generation iPhone, the 3G, came to the world with the ability to run third-party applications. Unfortunately, it would take over a year before one was able to download it from the App Store. Now that we have it, is it as good as a TomTom dedicated device or is just a little better than the nearly decade old Palm OS version? Truthfully, there is no short answer as to how good TomTom for the iPhone is. Like all the other GPS applications for the iPhone, it has it’s lacking and it has its strengths. Take a ride with me as we make a turn-by-turn review of TomTom’s navigation for the iPhone.
Pros
- Large easy to read screen
- Feature rich
- Great sounding built-in amp
- Plays iPod and DVD video
- Expandable with Sirius XM, Bluetooth, and GPS components
Cons
- On-screen soft buttons not responsive
- iPod listing very slow with large library
- Extremely difficult to navigate iPod
- Large screen wasted with small character amount
- New tracks “blanks” out info and lags on refresh
The Bottom Line
Alpine has a long history of making steller products that push the envelope of technology and its full sized Double-DIN strives to continue this tradition. With its out-of-the-box integration with an iPod, a beautiful looking interface, and excellent sound, one becomes surprised when they find fault with the iPod integration. While it’s first iPod unit, the iAD-X001, excelled even with its short comings, the iVA-W505 leaves one wondering where Alpine missed the boat with this iPod venture.
Ratings
Recommended
Maybe (Due to Price)
Full Review
When SvenOnTech reviewed the first fully iPod integrated Alpine iAD-X001 upon its release, we were excited to see the advancement Alpine made with the single-DIN unit. Sure, it had some minor issues, but it was a first generation and short comings are always expected with such releases. Sure to Alpine’s character, the problems were all corrected in the next-generation units. So with a large LCD screen allowing large real estate for menus, text display, and easy to reach buttons, the iVA-W505 has the potential to blow the roof off where the little guys left off.
Pros
- Best Text-to-Speech engine we’ve heard
- Nice screen animation
- Easy to read map
- Exit button on route shows nearby POIs
Cons
- On-screen soft buttons not responsive
- Difficult to navigate audio controls in GPS mode
- Very chatty GPS disrupts audio programming
The Bottom Line
Alpine put a really nice looking GPS map onto your screen that is easy to read and is full of information. While a bit chatty, which can be annoying while listening to the news or podcasts, the text-to-speech is the best I’ve ever heard pronouncing names perfectly. Unfortunately, the soft buttons do not respond to your touch accurately that increases your frustration a bit but once routed, it’s all hands-off until arrival.
Ratings
Recommended
No (Too Expensive)
Full Review
In-car navigation systems are nice to have due to giving you a large screen and keeping that dash clean. In-dash systems also are free of inviting thieves into your car. Full integration into your audio system is another nice feature as well. But how do they stack up and compare to dash-mount devices? Specifically, how does the Alpine NVE-M300 compare? Read on and be sure to see our video reviews below, too.
Pros
- Yahoo! Local integration
- Send2Car
- Traffic updates to route
- Clear and loud speaker
- User added modules
- User customizable
Cons
- Large and bulky unit
- Huge mount
- Sometimes quirky routing
- No zoom on turns
- No multi-stop routes
- Weak battery
- Expensive monthly service fee
The Bottom Line
Dash Express positions itself as the first smart GPS that can help you avoid congestion and get you to Point B faster than any other navigation system available today. Its use of Yahoo! Local, Send2Car, and DashApps make this the most feature rich and advanced GPS ever; however, when you lose your Internet connection, it’s one of the most basic and lackluster GPS’ that could sit on your dash.
Ratings
Recommended
Yes (Conditional)
Full Review
When I first heard about the Dash Express and it’s ability to communicate to the Internet and other Dash Express GPS devices for a more accurate look at traffic, I was fascinated with it. GPS devices for the most part have lacked any leaps in features and this was the jump I had been wanting to see for some time. You can imagine how excited I was when the unit arrived a week later at SvenOnTech headquarters. After registering the Dash online, would it rise to the heights I had been waiting for or would it be just another well crafted marketing campaign?
Pros
- Light and thin
- Best mount we’ve seen or used. Period.
- Great interface
- Good POI database
- Competitively priced
Cons
- Poor battery life
- Doesn’t specify end points location on road (left side or right side)
- Slow processor which causes delayed input
The Bottom Line
The GPS market is becoming crowded and thus more affordable. SvenOnTech has been reviewing these units for the last six years and we have to say, we are impressed with Harman Kardon’s entry into this market. We really disliked how the unit would not specify if our destination was on the left or right side of the road and how the processor would lag behind our finger presses. Other than that, this is a fine GPS.
Ratings
Recommended
Yes*
Full Review
SvenOnTech has seen many GPS units and for the most part, GPS is GPS. What separates the boys from the men is interface, accuracy, and volume. Yes, men speak much louder. Accuracy has been pretty spot on for many manufacturers we’ve tested with only poor address placement being the real major problem in this area. When it’s time to turn in a complex intersection, Harman Kardon, like most others, do this well. For the most part, addresses on the GPS-310 were pretty much spot on with the actual location.
The only dismal aspect to accuracy we found was that Harman Kardon thought it not prudent to tell us if our end point was going to be on the left or right side. When you’re in a large busy city and you’re in the left lane of four, and then you notice when it’s too late that you need to be in the right lane, well, that sucks. In one instance when this happened to us, it took us ten minutes to get back to where we had to be due to the no u-turn signs everywhere. What a frustrating thing when the whole idea of a GPS is to get you to your destination without worry. This is why you see an astrek next to our recommendation. If you can live with this limitation, then yes, we recommend it. If not, move onto another brand. (According to our contact at Harman Kardon, all three models do not give street position of your destination.)
We took the GPS-310 all over the Bay Area and Central Valley of California. We put in over 40 hours of testing into this unit, and did so side-by-side with a competitor we’ve tested (and reviewed here on SvenOnTech.) We found the GPS-310 to be more accurate and quicker, when we missed a turn, to re-route us than the other unit. In all fairness, the other unit was about a year old and a lot can happen in this industry in just twelve short months. From San Francisco, to San Jose, to Fresno, to Stockton, to Manteca, to Elk Grove, to Sacramento, to Oakland, to Pittsburgh (CA), to Walnut Creek, and beyond, the GPS-310 just did an excellent job of getting us to our destination. Again, outside of the lack of telling us, “Hey, it’s going to be on your left side,” we couldn’t have been any happier with the GPS-310.
Pros
- Excellent iPod integration
- Premium sound
- Easy to use
Cons
- No power scroll feature for iPod listings
- Lack of built-in CD player
- MSRP price
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for an excellent head unit that was meant for the iPod, this is it. At an affordable street price, there really isn’t any other after-market solution this tightly tied into the iPod available to date. Add to the mix Alpine’s great looks, large buttons, and superb sound; you can’t go wrong.
Ratings
Recommended
Yes
Full Review
I first saw the Alpine iAD-001 at the Macworld Expo 2007 and was excited to see a head unit made for the iPod from the ground up. With its large display, iPod-like navigation (emphases on like,) and classic Alpine large buttons, I knew that this would be a winner when it hit the streets. I couldn’t wait to stick it into my vehicle.
Fast forward to late June and there arrived my Alpine iAD-X001 along with the Sirius and a Bluetooth module. I’ll be focusing on the iAD-X001 in this review, but will touch on the other two add-ons. When I opened the boxes and laid everything out, I smiled with anticipation. I couldn’t wait to plug in my 5.5G iPod into this head unit. Having used the iPod module for my top-of-the-line Pioneer AV system in my Grand Prix GTP for the past year with dissatisfaction, I was ready to put this Alpine to the test. Read the rest of this entry »
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Pros
FAST, powerful, fun engine. Great sporty looks. Roomy interior.
Cons
Cheap leather seats, front wheel drive, head room reduces as seat is brought forward.
The Bottom Line
If you want a fast, fun, comfy, sporty looking car, get this. At the price it’s at, Pontiac is giving it away.
Full Review
I had been eyeing the Grand Prix GTP since Pontiac redid it in 1997. Mostly the GTP is what caught my attention. Supercharged V6 that puts out 245 ponies and it was four door, yes sir! I couldn’t think of one car that had four doors and had this kind of power… under 30k. Heck, under 40k! So when I was able to buy it in August, 2000, I was very excited. I knew I wanted this car and didn’t even to test drive it, but I did. Three hours later, it was mine! Read the rest of this entry »